LAWRENCE, Kan. – I am a die-hard Saturday Night Live fan and have been since I was in elementary school. (Too bad my classmates didn’t always appreciate my not-ready-for-prime-time sense of humor.) But for as much as I love the show, I have often been as critical of the show as any outsider with better than cursory knowledge of the inner workings of the show.

The show is currently in a sort of transition, with new writers coming and going and talent cycling through like college athletes. Even so, SNL has recently shown the sort of signs of life that illustrate just how close it is to striking yet another memorable balance in both its on and off air ensemble. And that’s just the purely content-driven side of the show.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

O’FALLON, Mo. – Where do I begin? There’s been a lot of interesting television in the last week, and some other intriguing item looking forward.

Late Night

Saturday Night Live delivered one of its best episodes in recent memory. And I have a pretty good memory, particularly with regard to SNL. Beginning with a well-executed cold open and perhaps the most physically demanding monologue since Bill Murray scaled the “Homebase” set 10 seasons ago, Joseph Gordon-Levitt proved himself a more-than-formidable host. Musical guests Dave Matthews Band made yet another appearance on the show. DMB is the only musical act I can think of who’s performances have now spanned the three longest-tenured directors in SNL’s history – the late Dave Wilson (with host Courteney Cox in 1994), multiple appearances with director Beth McCarthy Miller, and now Don Roy King. I have no doubt I’m the only person who really cares.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Sports TV, Technology, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Here are portions of the June 12 episode of “Smokey and the Bear,” when I weighed in on the David Letterman-Sarah Palin fiasco:

This whole thing about David Letterman and Sarah Palin. Basically, my opinion is this.

David Letterman made a few jokes the other night about Sarah Palin and Sarah Palin’s daughter. He was intending the jokes to be about the 18-year-old who had a baby that, by the way, Sarah Palin’s husband on an interview on the Today show referred to–with his daughter and baby in hand. He’s sitting next to his 18-year-old daughter, who’s holding her baby, and he refers to the baby as “a mistake.” Right there. I’m like, Jesus, what an awful grandfather! My grandparents have had their moments over the years, but I don’t think they ever called me a mistake–at least, not that I knew of. Same with my parents. But either way, it’s just like. What a jackass!

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – For as long as I’ve been writing about the world of live television, I don’t think I’ve ever actually put forth a list of who I think is the best for on-air and production.

Here are a couple of rules: 1) individuals must still be active in their respective roles (network changes are okay); 2) there is no limit on how many people working for a particular network can be chosen (if the network happens to be that good, it wouldn’t make sense for me to suggest otherwise); 3) for sports, when I feel it is warranted, I may select multiple people holding the same position but for different sports.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Back for its 33rd year, Saturday Night Live kicked off the new season with host Lebron James and musical guest Kanye West, marking the second time the season premiere featured both an African American host and musical guest. Oddly enough, the previous time featured Michael Jordan as host and Public Enemy as musical guest in 1991.

Many would argue that ’91 was during SNL’s glory days, with one of its most popular and successful casts and a top-notch writing staff. However, on the heels of some unfortunate off-beat summer films starring current cast members – Hot Rod with Andy Samberg and Bill Hader and The Brothers Solomon written and starring Will Forte with Kristen Wiig and a Hader cameo, the current cast still has a lot to prove.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After three years of coming close, MTV has finally taken one last plunge toward ruining the last shred of its original self. The cable network’s long-running Video Music Awards took a nose dive Sunday night with drastic changes to format and location, not to mention a level of payoff-less manufactured hype that would make Fox chief Rupert Murdoch blush.

After introducing the VMAs in 1984, only three years after the network’s inception, the awards grew to become a legitimate event with actual awards, known for memorable performances and surprise appearances. More recently, the show became a rare break in MTV’s schedule of non-music-related programming to pay homage to the very form that put it on the map. From time to time, there might have even been some actual anticipation of who would win the unique Moonman statues. But all that has changed.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With every episode of the current season of Saturday Night Live, it seems as if the show’s production crew has lost its touch.

Part of the problem is Don Roy King, the show’s new director. His qualifications were suspect in the first place, and as each week passes, it has become clear that he has no business directing the long-running variety show. His direction of SNL’s comedy sketches has been subpar at best, and he has done a horrendous job cutting the music performances. But King isn’t the only one to blame.

The show’s producer Steve Higgins has somehow managed to keep his job amid the program’s plummetting ratings, and the timing of this season’s shows has been some of the worst in recent memory. For two straight weeks, there have been issues with how much time is left at the end of the show. The final sketch of last week’s episode hosted by Annette Bening had to be prematurely cut off because the show was going too long. For this week’s show hosted by Justin Timberlake, there wasn’t even enough time for a sketch in the last segment of the show. Instead, the SNL band played on camera before the final commercial break.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Saturday Night Live may have suffered one of the biggest losses in the show’s 32-year history. The show returned last weekend without director Beth McCarthy Miller calling the shots, for the first time in 11 years. Reports from USA Today and Variety have been unclear about who made the decision to end McCarthy Miller’s reign as director, and it’s even more baffling how Don Roy King was chosen as her replacement.

McCarthy Miller came to SNL after rising to the rank of senior director at MTV before leaving to direct The Jon Stewart Show, whose short lifespan perfectly coincided with the late Dave Wilson’s retirement from SNL. Wilson’s departure, however, appeared to have been far more premeditated as a live shot in the control room showed him salute at the close of the 1994-95 season finale. McCarthy Miller had no such curtain call.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Despite correcting some errant judgment from the last couple of years, MTV’s recently-announced lineup for its upcoming Video Music Awards still leaves much to be desired. While the cable network has returned the VMAs to Thursday night instead of Sunday and back to it’s home in New York City, both of which are for the first time in two years, scheduling may have kept MTV from getting the director it deserves. With this year’s VMAs occurring within days of the Emmy Awards, the show’s last three directors – Beth McCarthy Miller, Louis J. Horvitz and Bruce Gowers – are all unavailable because of their nominations for Outstanding Directing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program. Horvitz is also directing the Emmy Awards telecast. MTV, therefore, had to hire UK director Hamish Hamilton for its longest-running award show. Hamilton, who has directed the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as countless music DVDs, has no doubt made a name for himself internationally, but his ability to cut a show on the fly is still debatable. His style of employing erratic camerawork and cutting often results in a jarring visual chaos that is, at the very least, unsettling. He was the director behind the Live 8 performances in London, of which I was very critical, and has directed the last few U2 concert DVDs. If his style remains unchanged, this year’s VMAs could be dizzying, but I will gladly eat my words if he proves me wrong.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — For the fifth time in her career, Beth McCarthy Miller has been nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Outstanding Directing for Variety, Music or Comedy programming. McCarthy Miller, nominated for last season’s episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Steve Martin, has never won an Emmy despite past nominations for America: A Tribute to Heroes, Saturday Night Live: The 25th Anniversary and Saturday Night Live. This year, her category consists of fellow veterans Louis J. Horvitz (78th Annual Academy Awards) and Bruce Gowers (American Idol) as well as Chuck O’Neil (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart) and newcomer Jim Hoskinson (The Colbert Report). Unlike in prevous attempts, however, McCarthy Miller is the lone representative of non-cable late-night programming. Her nomination is one of only two for the 31-year-old show; the other went to SNL’s technical crew for the episode hosted by Jack Black.

Filed under:
Music/Variety by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Two months have passed since my hectic schedule last allowed me an opportunity to vent. I’ve seen a lot of television in these eight weeks, so here’s what I’ve concluded:

The first year back to multi-network coverage of the Triple Crown was disappointing at best. NBC’s telecasts at Churchill Downs and Pimlico Race Course were almost entirely comprised of cuts (rather than dissolves or other effects) that were exceedingly jarring, and director David Michaels seemed to be cutting out of sync with the field. His cutting during The Preakness Stakes, when jockey Edgar Prado was forced to pull up heavy favorite Barbaro, at least provided a silver lining in the cloud over the first two races. ABC/ESPN’s coverage of The Belmont Stakes, however, had no such upside. As The New York Times’ Richard Sandomir pointed out in his June 13th column, “an inferior ESPN production showed how unprepared it was to carry a Triple Crown race.” Indeed, there was nothing positive to be taken from the broadcast except for the hope that it can’t possibly get any worse next year.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I’m back at KU for the spring semester, introducing a new look to the site, to me and to Jayhawk Sports Talk. While specifics of the coming season at KUJH are still pending, I will share my recommendations for the weekend programs you shouldn’t miss:

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. — After a series of poor live programming decisions by MTV, such as the Live 8 debacle, the 2004 MTV Movie Awards and Video Music Awards, and the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show, the cable network seems to be headed back on the right track for the upcoming Video Music Awards.

For the second straight year the show will be on a Sunday at the American Airlines Arena after having been held on Thursdays for the past several years in either New York or Los Angeles at various locations, including Radio City Music Hall, New York’s Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center and the Universal Amphitheatre.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – I’ve needed a couple of weeks to recover from the unfortunate event known as Live 8. It seems every media outlet has weighed in, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t share my own thoughts.

First of all, it was painfully obvious that MTV and VH1′s July 9th re-broadcasts of two consecutive, commercial-free five-hour blocks of Live 8 performances (one block on VH1 followed by another on MTV) were responses to the overwhelming number of scathing reviews of their previous week’s telecast of the concerts on July 2, 2005. It was not out of generosity to their audience, as they would have liked people to believe. They made some big time errors that they couldn’t rectify until a week later.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. — This morning, as I was driving from Kansas City to Lawrence in my car “Black Beauty,” who will travel her 222,000th mile this week, listening to D.H.T.’s remake of the Roxette song “Listen To Your Heart” on the radio, I began to get nostalgic. Reflecting on the good old days before “pop” and MTV came in and practically decimated music and my beloved medium of television.

I wonder if most teens even realize that the MTV is an abbreviation for Music Television. What music?! It has instead become a brand that seeks to capitalize off of all that is “pop,” more recently accepting the responsibility of defining “pop” – music and culture – in the first place. With the notable exceptions of Beth McCarthy Miller, Carson Daly and Jon Stewart, MTV has produced mediocrity in massive quantities, people with no hope for survival in broadcast television. The network has become far too big, no longer emphasizing music as it was intended to when it launched in the early 1980′s.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Television by Scott A. Winer

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Late Show with David Letterman: Led by the premiere host in late-night television, the Late Show did a superb job last Wednesday when actor Russell Crowe appeared on the show after his arrest last week for throwing a telephone at a New York hotel worker. If Johnny Carson is the eternal King of Late Night, then David Letterman is its Crowned Prince. Letterman is by far the best interviewer of all late-night talk show hosts, and his star shone bright when he appropriately conducted a compassionate, serious interview, infused with a perfect amount of humor. Regardless of ratings, Late Show with David Letterman is qualitatively far superior to any of its competition. Even technical-director-turned-director Jerry Foley, who is often lacking in his ability to direct a music performance, rose to the occasion with a commendable job on Paul Anka’s jazzed up rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – SNL wrapped up its 30th season with an unfortunate performance by both the on and off-air crew. The writing continued to lag, as writing supervisor Paula Pell ended her time at the show. One careless tech mistake in a UPN parody and questionable staging for Coldplay ended the show’s third decade in disappointing fashion. Despite NBC’s stellar coverage of the triumphant display by Afleet Alex in the 130th running of The Preakness Stakes, led by producer David Michaels and director John Gonzalez, at Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course, the SNL finale fell short of an otherwise superb day for the network. Whether producer Steve Higgins is where the change must be made is for the show’s creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels to decide. Since the departure of Tim Herlihy in the late-1990s, Higgins has been at the helm with director Beth McCarthy Miller. McCarthy Miller, who dodged the bullet of being the director behind the disastrous Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, has remained in good standing at SNL although she was passed over by alma mater MTV for the 2004 Video Music Awards. She deserves to remain in her position on the show, but better musical guests need to be booked throughout the season in order to ensure that she has good material to work with. Furthermore, tech errors must be addressed before the show converts to high definition in coming years.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer

ROSWELL, Ga. – After Johnny Knoxville hosted one of the funniest episodes of Saturday Night Live all season, and possibly one of the funniest in the last few years, Will Ferrell returned last Saturday to host one of the worst SNLs I have ever seen. Aside from the “Cold Open” and “Celebrity Jeopardy!” the show got worse by the minute.

To add to the problems, SNL has been technically unsound for many of the past few episodes, a fact that is inexcusable. I have had many experiences with remote sports productions that have gone smoothly despite being in a new location every week, facing new challenges in each venue and juggling issues arising from producing TV for both standard and high definition. A show like SNL that is shot in a studio with its own control room in standard definition has no reason to be experiencing tech problems on a regular basis. Many of these errors have been made by operators rather than equipment. The show hosted by Tom Brady had several graphics that were put on screen at the wrong time; the Cameron Diaz-hosted episode was horribly flawed with misplaced or poorly-timed visual effects (like the pixelated blur made famous by “COPS”); and the Ferrell show most notably featured a cut to something other than a camera (still not sure what it was) during one of the sketches.

Filed under:
Late Night TV, Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Technology, Television by Scott A. Winer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Think Outside the Box: For some reason, networks have begun to show a growing number of replays with various split-screen effects. Here’s a thought: STOP! It began with Fox’s baseball coverage in the last few years and can now be seen on some of ABC’s college football telecasts.While some viewers may be able to follow two replays going simultaneously at opposite ends of the screen, no network seems to be able to integrate that with a background that doesn’t look absolutely hideous. Fox used its mind-numbing cookie-cutter shapes rather than simple polygons, and ABC’s background looked so pixelated that it was practically unbearable to watch. Whatever happened to the good ‘ole days when it was sufficient to show the isolated shot of the quarterback throwing and the subsequent pressure from the opposition’s defensive line and then seeing the receivers in isolation from a separate angle. I don’t remember anyone complaining that they couldn’t see both at the exact same time.

Filed under:
Music/Variety, Opinion/Editorial, Sports TV, Television by Scott A. Winer